Mirabai Chanu wins historic third straight CWG gold in Glasgow 2026
Synopsis
Mirabai Chanu did not just win gold in Glasgow — she completed a feat no Indian athlete had managed before: three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals. Battling failed opening attempts in both snatch and clean and jerk, she recovered to set new CWG snatch records and lift 105kg in the clean and jerk, all while managing a body weight she calls 'very difficult' to hold at 48kg.
Key Takeaways
Mirabai Chanu won gold in the women's 48kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on 26 July .
She became the first athlete to win three consecutive CWG gold medals in this category, having also won at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 .
She set new Commonwealth Games snatch records , successfully lifting 82kg and 85kg after a failed first attempt.
In the clean and jerk, she lifted 105kg on her second attempt to secure gold, lifting 8kg more than her competitors.
Mirabai was the first Indian gold medallist at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
She credited her family and long-time coach Vijay Sharma for her sustained success.
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu scripted history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Sunday, 26 July, claiming her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women's 48kg category — becoming the first Indian athlete to win gold at these Games and completing a remarkable hat-trick across Gold Coast 2018, Birmingham 2022, and now Glasgow. The Tokyo Olympics silver medallist credited her family's steadfast support and the guidance of coach Vijay Sharma for keeping her at the pinnacle of the sport through years of injuries and setbacks.
A Recovery That Defined the Night
The 31-year-old did not have a flawless start. She failed on her opening 82kg snatch attempt — an error she later attributed to her own mistake — before recovering to successfully lift the weight on her second try. She then pushed further, clearing 85kg on her third snatch attempt to set new Commonwealth Games records in the snatch discipline.
In the clean and jerk, Mirabai again faced an early setback, failing her first attempt, but responded with a composed 105kg lift on her second try to seal the gold comfortably. Notably, she was lifting eight kilograms more than her nearest competitors in that phase, underlining the gulf in class.
What Mirabai Said
'My family has supported me a lot till today. I have suffered many injuries, but my family supported me a lot,' Mirabai told reporters after her victory. She also paid tribute to her long-time coach: 'From the beginning, there are many things for which we need to work hard and stay focused, whether it is the Games or a championship, on how we have to perform and how to maintain that performance. Vijay sir has always supported me in all of this.'
On the decision to attempt heavier lifts, she explained: 'We were not going to put in so much effort in these Games, but my first attempt, which failed, was because of my own mistake. So we thought... But we also had to see what was going on in training and what more improvements were needed. So, I feel this performance is very important for me because I have controlled my body weight for a long time, and bringing it down to 48kg is very difficult for me.'
Tears on the Podium
Standing atop the podium as the Indian national anthem played, Mirabai described the moment as deeply emotional. 'When our National Anthem is sung, when we listen to it, tears come out automatically. They are tears of happiness because I won the first gold medal for India,' she said. The weight management challenge she described — holding her body at 48kg over a sustained period — adds further context to the scale of this achievement.
Historic Significance
Mirabai's triple gold — spanning three consecutive Commonwealth Games editions — places her among the most decorated Indian athletes in the history of the Games. This is also the first Indian gold of Glasgow 2026, making the moment doubly significant for the country's contingent. This comes amid growing recognition of India's depth in weightlifting, with Mirabai having been the standard-bearer of the discipline for nearly a decade.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, her performance in Glasgow will sharpen expectations around what she can deliver on the sport's biggest stage.
Point of View
And Mirabai achieved it while managing a body weight she herself describes as punishing to maintain. What mainstream coverage tends to underplay is the tactical intelligence on display — she absorbed two failed opening lifts across snatch and clean and jerk and still set records. The real question heading into Los Angeles 2028 is whether the body, now 31 and carrying the mileage of repeated injuries, can hold at 48kg through an Olympic cycle. Glasgow answered the form question emphatically; the fitness management question is what the next two years will test.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Commonwealth Games gold medals has Mirabai Chanu won?
Mirabai Chanu has won three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals — at Gold Coast 2018, Birmingham 2022, and Glasgow 2026, all in the women's 48kg weightlifting category. She is the first Indian athlete to achieve this feat.
What records did Mirabai Chanu set at CWG 2026 in Glasgow?
Mirabai set new Commonwealth Games snatch records at Glasgow 2026, successfully lifting 82kg and 85kg in the snatch discipline. She also lifted 105kg in the clean and jerk to clinch the gold medal.
Why did Mirabai Chanu struggle early in the Glasgow 2026 competition?
Mirabai failed her opening snatch attempt at 82kg, which she attributed to her own mistake rather than a technical problem. She recovered to lift the weight on her second attempt and then pushed to 85kg on her third, turning the setback into a record-breaking performance.
Who is Mirabai Chanu's coach?
Mirabai Chanu's long-time coach is Vijay Sharma, whom she credited for helping her maintain consistency at the highest level across multiple Games and championships.
What is the significance of Mirabai Chanu's gold at Glasgow 2026?
Her gold was the first for India at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and completed a historic triple across three successive editions of the Games. It reinforces her status as India's most decorated Commonwealth Games weightlifter.
